Hu Yuying crouched down and looked up at Long Aotian, her eyes sparkling. "Brother Long, where are we going to sell clothes tomorrow?"
"Morning market."
"Morning market?" Hu Yuying was a bit puzzled. She had been to the morning market before, and most of the stalls there sold vegetables and fruits.
Would selling clothes at the morning market really work?
Seemingly sensing Hu Yuying's confusion, Long Aotian asked softly, "What kind of people mostly go to the morning market?"
Hu Yuying thought for a moment. "Old grandpas, old grandmas, and some housewives."
These were the three types of people she had seen the most at the morning market.
"Exactly, housewives."
"They have shed the glamour and brightness of their youth, moved past the carefree days of their younger years, and now have families, children, and endless worries as mothers."
"At the same time, they also hold the economic lifeline of their households. They buy vegetables and fresh meat to cook meals for their hardworking husbands.
They buy fruits to provide their children with a nutritious diet.
They also buy socks, underwear, shoes, thick clothes in winter, and short sleeves in summer—essentially, they are constantly buying things all year round."
"While making these purchases, they also have to save money and avoid overspending. So, in their eyes, apart from necessities, anything else that is reasonably priced will spark a desire to get a good deal."
At this point, Long Aotian looked at Hu Yuying. "How much did you pay for the short sleeve you're wearing?"
"This one?" Hu Yuying tugged at her short sleeve and said sheepishly, "I’ve had this for a long time. I remember buying it at a village fair a few years ago. It only cost me about ten yuan."
A few years ago, at a fair, ten yuan—and judging by Hu Yuying's expression, she felt like she had gotten a great deal.
It wasn’t entirely her fault for feeling that way.
E-commerce hadn’t fully developed at this stage, and most people still preferred shopping in physical stores.
In stores, with costs like electricity, rent, and labor, clothes weren’t cheap.
Long Aotian and Hu Yuying had felt this when they went shopping at the mall last time.
Of course, setting aside quality, lower prices are more appealing to the masses.
This would become even more evident later, when 4G technology and online shopping became widespread, leading to the near-collapse of many physical stores.
With the same product images online, ignoring quality, even a price difference of just one yuan would make most people choose the cheaper option.
If Long Aotian wanted to take a people-friendly approach, he couldn’t go to places like shopping malls or other bustling areas with high foot traffic and many stores.
If other stores were selling clothes for 30 to 40 yuan, undercutting their prices would be cutting into their profits. Who would treat you kindly then?
[Note: I don’t know about other cities, but when I went shopping and asked about prices, this was the range. Later, I found out the wholesale price was only a few yuan. I almost got ripped off.]
The morning market was different. It was mainly for selling vegetables, fruits, and other similar items.
Selling clothes there would be unconventional, but it wouldn’t create any conflict of interest.
After listening to Long Aotian, Hu Yuying quickly realized what she had been so proud of earlier.
She and Long Aotian had gone to buy stock today, and the wholesale price for one piece of clothing was only 6 yuan, yet he had sold it to her for over ten...
"So, Brother Long, you want to take a people-friendly approach?"
Seeing Long Aotian nod, Hu Yuying asked again, "Then should we sell them for 25 yuan?"
After all, Hu Yuying had checked online, and the current price for ice silk short sleeves ranged from 30 to 35 yuan.
If they sold them for 25 yuan... wow! Hu Yuying covered her mouth with her small hand, imagining all the money they could make.
Before Hu Yuying could get too carried away, Long Aotian gently tapped her on the head.
Hu Yuying covered her head and looked at Long Aotian with her big, innocent eyes. "Brother Long, why did you hit me?"
"You’re even more ruthless than me. I think 19 yuan is about right, you little money-grubber..."
"Besides, if we can sell out quickly, the price will pretty much be set. Other stores won’t be able to sell their stock and will have to lower their prices, leaving their products unsold. Next time we go to buy stock, we won’t have to do it so secretly."
After saying this, Long Aotian handed Hu Yuying the clothes he had picked out. "You wear this tomorrow, and I’ll wear this. We’ll be the walking advertisements!"
"Okay, let’s do it!"
"Let’s do it!" Long Aotian said, preparing to leave. "Call me tomorrow, and I’ll take you to fire the first shot in our money-making plan!"
After seeing Long Aotian off,
Hu Yuying returned to her room and looked at the clothes Long Aotian had picked out for her. She couldn’t resist trying them on secretly.
The ice silk fabric was cool and smooth, lightweight and comfortable to wear, and it accentuated her figure beautifully.
Hu Yuying usually bought clothes a size larger so she could wear them for longer.
Similarly, looser clothes tended to hide her figure.
But now, wearing the clothes and pants Long Aotian had picked out, with the ice silk material clinging smoothly to her body, her curves—especially the line between her waist and hips—looked even more graceful and delicate.
Hu Yuying couldn’t help but take a few extra glances at herself in the mirror. After all, everyone loves beauty.
Just because it’s unnecessary doesn’t mean you don’t care.
Lying back in bed, hugging her stuffed bunny, Hu Yuying forced herself to fall asleep.
She had to get up early tomorrow.
Oh, and she forgot to ask Long Aotian what he wanted for breakfast tomorrow.
Never mind, she wouldn’t ask. It seemed like no matter what she made, Long Aotian always enjoyed it.
Thinking this, Hu Yuying suddenly felt a bit narcissistic and quickly buried herself under the covers, hiding her blushing face.
The next morning,
Long Aotian drove the tricycle, with Hu Yuying sitting on a small stool in the back, and the two of them set off energetically for the morning market.
After parking the tricycle by the roadside, Long Aotian got out. "Wait here quietly."
With that, he walked off into the distance.
Hu Yuying watched Long Aotian, and the next second, she blinked her big, innocent eyes in surprise. She saw him buy a pack of cigarettes.
Then Long Aotian walked around the morning market for a bit.
When he returned, he drove the tricycle to an empty spot across the street from the market.
"All set. Let’s get started on our money-making plan."
With that, he set up a sunshade, creating a small, sheltered area.
Looking at Hu Yuying, who had neatly arranged the clothes, Long Aotian thought for a moment and handed her some money. "Go and break this into smaller bills, preferably lots of one-yuan coins."
"Okay." Hu Yuying took the money and ran across the street to make the exchange.
At this moment, there was no trace of the insecurity or gloom that used to linger on Hu Yuying.
"This is great," Long Aotian muttered, looking up at the sun and letting out a long breath.
He continued busying himself with preparations.
When Hu Yuying returned, Long Aotian started recording a message for the loudspeaker.
Once done, he hung the loudspeaker on the frame of the sunshade and pressed play...
["Yiwu Clothing Factory, Yiwu Clothing Factory, Yiwu’s largest clothing factory has gone bankrupt..."]